Podcasts about drill team

Brig. Gen. Gavin Marks '96 discusses the absolute importance of standards and integrity in leadership, and how a new, more rigorous approach at the Academy will build that in to cadets making them Day-1 leaders. SUMMARY Brigadier General Gavin P. Marks, Commandant of the Air Force Academy, shares his journey from being a young man in Atlanta, Georgia to becoming a pilot and eventually serving as the Commandant. He discusses his experiences at the Air Force Academy, including basic cadet training and the challenges he faced. General Marks emphasizes the importance of perseverance, leaning on support networks, and maintaining high standards in leadership. He also reflects on the impact of the Academy on his personal and professional development. General Gavin Marks reflects on his personal journey and the impact of his wife on his military career. He discusses the importance of being adaptable and humble as a leader and the unique responsibilities of command. He shares his decision to return to the Air Force Academy and the changes he is implementing to better prepare cadets for the challenges of great power competition. General Marks emphasizes the love and passion that the leaders at the Academy have for developing future officers and encourages listeners to continue dreaming big.   OUR FAVORITE QUOTES "How you do anything is how you do everything." "There's always somebody better." "I want to make sure that they feel like they got their money's worth from a military development perspective or military training perspective."  "The leaders at the Air Force Academy, from top to bottom, love deeply, deeply love the institution, and are incredibly passionate about the development of these young men and women into officers in the Air Force and the Space Force." "Continue to dream big. Don't let anyone dissuade you from goals that you have. And as it relates specifically to the Air Force Academy, it is absolutely worth it."   SHARE THIS EPISODE LINKEDIN  |  FACEBOOK   CHAPTERS 00:00:  Introduction and Background 01:53:  Returning to the Air Force Academy 02:52:  Young Gavin Marks: Childhood and Calling to Serve 07:04:  Challenges and Growth in Basic Cadet Training 08:29:  Lessons in Leadership and Perseverance 11:45:  Choosing the Air Force Academy and Pilot Training 15:06:  Reflections on the Academy's Impact 20:52:  Leadership Experiences as a Cadet 23:43:  Lessons in Leadership and Perception 27:55:  Successes and Career Progression 32:35:  Meeting His Wife and Reflecting on Tinker Air Force Base 37:25:  Personal Journey and the Impact of Relationships 57:54:  Changes in the Life of a Cadet 01:05:48:  Challenges and Partnerships 01:09:39:  Rigor and Expectations 01:11:09:  Love and Passion for Developing Future Officers 01:12:34:  The Value and Worth of Attending the Air Force Academy   TAKEAWAYS The importance of perseverance, resilience, and grit in overcoming challenges, especially during difficult experiences like the Air Force Academy. The value of having a strong support network, including family and friends, to help navigate challenging times. The significance of leadership roles and experiences during the Air Force Academy in shaping one's development and future success. The Air Force Academy's focus on evolving its training and development methods to better prepare cadets for the challenges of great power competition. The deep passion and commitment of the Air Force Academy's leadership in developing leaders of character who are ready to serve their country.   ABOUT GEN. MARKS BRIG. GEN. MARKS' BIO Brigadier General Gavin P. Marks is the Commandant of Cadets, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado. He commands the 4,300-member Cadet Wing and more than 200 Air Force and civilian personnel. He guides military, leadership, character development, Basic Cadet Training and Expeditionary Skills Training for the Air Force Cadet Wing in addition to providing facilities and logistical support.  Brig. Gen. Marks earned his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1996 and his pilot wings from Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, in 1998. Brig. Gen. Marks has served as a T-1A instructor pilot (at both the undergraduate and graduate training levels) and flight examiner, an E-3B/C instructor pilot and flight examiner, an Air Force Intern, a staff officer on multiple joint staffs, and has commanded at the squadron and wing levels.  Prior to his current assignment, he served as the Director, Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.   Brig. Gen. Marks is a command pilot with more than 3,400 flying hours in the T-3, T-37, T-1A, E-3B/C/G, RC-135S/U/V, TC-135W, OC-135B, and WC-135C aircraft.   - Copy credit:  AF.MIL   CONNECT WITH GEN. MARKS INSTAGRAM: @‌USAFACOMMANDANT     ABOUT LONG BLUE LEADERSHIP Long Blue Leadership drops every two weeks on Tuesdays and is available on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn + Alexa, Spotify and all your favorite podcast platforms. Search @AirForceGrads on your favorite social channels for Long Blue Leadership news and updates!          FULL TRANSCRIPT OUR SPEAKERS Guest:  Brig. Gen. Gavin P. Marks '96  |  Host:  Naviere Walkewicz '99   Naviere Walkewicz 00:01 My guest today is Brig. Gen. Gavin P. Marks, USAFA Class of '96, and currently serving as the commandant of the Air Force Academy. This is his third command position since becoming a member of the Air Force. Gen. Marks was drawn to service as a young man in Atlanta, Georgia, and joined the Junior ROTC program in high school before coming to the Academy in 1992. After he graduated, he became a pilot and flew for 26 years, in addition to continuing his personal and professional development. In 2000, Gen. Marks graduated with distinction from Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. In 2015, he again graduated with distinction from the National War College at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C. He has held command positions at the squadron and wing levels. His attachment to the Academy has remained strong, so much so that 20 years ago, he committed to returning and had been working his way back to USAFA when he was called to service, assuming his role as commandant in 2023. Gen. Marks, it is a pleasure. Welcome to Long Blue Leadership. Thank you for being here.   Brig. Gen. Marks 01:03 Thank you very much. It is an honor for me to be here. It really is.   Naviere Walkewicz 01:07 This is an exciting time for us, because especially for me, being a Class of 1999 — “Gold will shine” — I had to get that in there. We go back to Arnold Hall in Basic Cadet Training, when you were the commandant of cadets during Basic Cadet Training for us. So I remember you vividly as your taps from your shoes hit the floor in Arnold Hall. So this is truly a pleasure, sir, thank you.   Brig. Gen. Marks 01:29 It is absolutely surreal to be back, and especially during this period that we're in right now during Basic Cadet Training, and as I interact with basic cadets and the cadre, it's hard not to reminisce about that time. It's hard not to share stories as well. I'm careful that I don't inundate the cadets with my stories of when I was the Basic Cadet Training commander. But it's just it's absolutely wonderful to be back here. Yeah, really is.   Naviere Walkewicz 01:53 Well, we'll get to hear some of those, I think, you know, from your perspective, back then, and also, more recently, as we weave through this podcast. But really excited. And where we like to start is when we go back to young Gavin Marks. So Gen. Marks, tell us about what you were like as a child.   Brig. Gen. Marks 02:08 My mother would tell you that I was precocious, that I was inquisitive. I was very, very talkative as well. So I have an older brother, and we are the sons of two parents that have been married for 55 years, and that's important, because 55 years is a long time, and it taught me the value of being committed. It also taught me the value of what love really looks like, up close and personal as well. I'm from Atlanta, Georgia, as you mentioned, so I'm a product of the South. I am a product of public schools, Baptist churches and Southern upbringing. So, I love sweet tea. I love this disgusting candy called Sugar Babies. And just about anything that you think of with regard to the South, you could probably say that that's pretty accurate as it relates to me and my personality as well. I call everyone ma'am and sir, regardless of rank, just based on my upbringing as well. I really would tell you that I got a calling to serve in the military by virtue of JROTC. I followed my brother into JROTC. We went to different high schools, and he enjoyed it, but it just wasn't his calling. I got involved in it and knew immediately that it was something that I wanted to do. I love shining my shoes. I love shining the brass belt buckle that I had on my trousers. I love marching. I love drill. I did Color Guard. I did Drill Team. It was wonderful for me. It was, I think, the thing that was missing in my life in terms of knowing what my niche was going to be. And so, my professor at that time in that particular JROTC program, I think he saw something in me, and he was the first one to actually bring up a military service academy. Prior to that point, I hadn't heard of anything about West Point or Annapolis or the Air Force Academy at all. And so, I took a trip with my father and we went out to all three and I can't swim, and so Annapolis was pretty difficult for me to wrap my mind around. West Point was too gray. You know, this is a 17-year-old at the time, or a 16-year-old at the time thinking these things. It's like, “Wow, this was really gray and dreary.” No offense to West Point. And then I got to the Air Force Academy, and I remember stepping off the plane and again, coming from Atlanta, Georgia, to see the snow-capped mountains, to immediately be able to feel the difference in the air, I knew that this was the place that I wanted to be. And so, I told my dad right then, as we stepped off the plane, I said, “This is it.” And he said, “What do you know about this place? You haven't even gone here yet.” But I knew, and the rest, as they say, is history.   Naviere Walkewicz 04:48 Wow. So, neither your parents served and your brother was the first kind of introduction to Junior ROTC. What was that like growing up without having that, in Atlanta, not having that military, I guess, presence around you, and you said that's what you learned was missing. But what kind of got you to that point?   Brig. Gen. Marks 05:08 So, I would say, just to be clear, so dad did not have a career in the military, but my father and my uncle both were drafted in Vietnam, and so to that extent, what I would say is, while there wasn't discussions or a lot of military impact in my household, I think, more than anything else, just through watching television, et cetera, there was something about the discipline. There was something about the professionalism. There was something about how revered those that are in service to their nation were in this country that really drew me to the profession of arms. It was just something about the fact that this is a career field. This is a profession that is extremely highly regarded across all facets of life, and I wanted to be a part of it.   Naviere Walkewicz 06:03 So, as a young man in public school, did you find yourself drawn to things, like, I started to think about programs that were like discipline-based, like taekwondo or sports in that manner. Did you have some of those experiences as young man?   Brig. Gen. Marks 06:16 I played — I ran track, following after my brother. My brother thrived in track and field. I followed him, and I absolutely loathed it. I was not athletically inclined, and try as I might, you know, I work out and I try to stay in good shape, but I would not call myself necessarily an athlete of the highest order by any stretch. And so that absolutely was an albatross around my neck coming to the Air Force Academy, especially during basic training, especially during Jacks Valley.   Naviere Walkewicz 06:52 Well, let's talk about that a little bit. Was there a specific instance in Jacks Valley where — because I feel like now you might be able to run circles around some of us.   Brig. Gen. Marks 07:01 Well, I will tell you — so, what I remember a lot about Jacks Valley, I remember the power-line runs. And back then we had the M1 Garand, 11, 12 pounds and we carried it everywhere. And it was heavy. You know, 12 pounds doesn't seem like it's heavy, but it's heavy when you're at port arms, and you're running for miles and miles on end, and the altitude, obviously, is vastly different. Jacks Valley is very dusty. You know, “Jacks Hack” is a thing. And so, all of those things, in aggregate, really caused me a lot of trouble. And so, what I remember is thinking often “I'm not going to make this. This is not going to happen for me,” in terms of graduating out of basic training, because I am falling behind in my runs, et cetera, et cetera. But I made it. I made it.   Naviere Walkewicz 07:56 I love that. And I think for some of our listeners, the key thing, even just in that one was, you know, you didn't give up. You recognized you just had to keep working at it, and you got through it. And you're now serving as a commandant of cadets. So, I feel like there's definitely a story here that talks about you and your grit and your perseverance and everything throughout these years.   Brig. Gen. Marks 08:15 The thing that I took from the Air Force Academy experience probably more than anything else — and there are several things that I took from it — is that this is a an incredibly difficult journey that is made better if you think about it from the perspective of just taking one step at a time every single day. Just show up, just show up, just be present, and that's 80% of it. If you just keep showing up, you are going to be OK. And so that was my mentality: They were going to have to kick me out. I was not going to self-eliminate at all. And so, no matter how slowly I ran back, then they were going to have to kick me out and I was going to keep showing up. The other thing is, I would say this: I had tremendous teammates. Our squad, well, in Jacks Valley, our flight, which became our squadron — we were so close, even back then. And if one of us was falling behind, “Come on, Gavin, let's go. Pick it up.” And that really helped a lot, because you didn't want to let your teammates down.   Naviere Walkewicz 09:22 So, we got a little glimpse of Jacks. So I'm just gonna' dial it back just real quick, back to the point where you said to your dad, “This is it. This is where I'm going.” So, what was that journey like from Junior ROTC to getting into the Academy? Because I think a lot of people want to know what that looked like for you.   Brig. Gen. Marks 09:38 So, I knew that from probably my junior year in high school that I wanted to go into the Air Force or to into the military. I didn't know which branch to be perfectly clear. So I applied to all three service academies. I applied to The Citadel and I applied to VMI and to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Those are all of the ones that I could think of at the time, and the visits helped a lot to crystallize in my mind what I wanted to do. But what really also helped was this fascination with flying. Originally, I wanted to be an astronaut, a dentist, a doctor, an actor, and so many different things when you're growing up, but the idea of flying was really at the forefront of my mind as well. I also knew I wanted to lead. And so, combining those two desires, it made sense to go to the Air Force Academy. And again, I couldn't swim. I tried as much as I possibly could to learn how to swim through the YMCA, et cetera. I'm a product of basic swimming at the Air Force Academy — twice. If I'm being completely candid with you and your listeners, if I could have swam at the time, it is likely that I would have gone to Annapolis, and it is likely that I would have been a Marine, because that is much more, at least in my thinking back then, in line with my personality. Because I am — I will just say the military pillar of the Air Force Academy was, as the young people would say, that's my jam, for sure.   Naviere Walkewicz 11:15 I can see that. While I appreciate that, I can see that. We're so glad that we were able to get you here at the Air Force Academy. So, let's talk about your time at the Academy. You wanted to be an astronaut. You turn the dials toward pilot. Let's talk about what that experience looked like.   Brig. Gen. Marks 11:30 So, the Academy was very, very challenging. What made it challenging primarily was the balance of so many requirements, and that's on purpose. It is rigorous on purpose because the profession of arms requires it, and the nation needs it, it deserves it. I wasn't prepared for it. High school — I wouldn't say high school came easy for me. I would say I did well in high school, and I did well in high school by virtue of cramming and by virtue of instincts. So, I came to the Air Force Academy not really knowing how to study. I didn't know how to prioritize tasks or manage tasks well at all. And the Academy humbled me tremendously.   Naviere Walkewicz Can you share a story about that?   Brig. Gen. Marks Oh, well, I would say this, and the dean, who I know has also been on the Long Blue Leadership podcast as well, she would cringe. So, I never got an F, I'm proud to say, but I certainly am on the team of Ds. I received a D in Aero, and, if I recall, Astro, civil engineering when we had that as a core as well. And that was an incredibly humbling experience for me, because prior to that point, I had never had anything in my career lower than a C in high school or anything like that. And so that kind of thing makes you think, “What am I doing wrong here?” And as you are engaged in that type of introspection, you're still having to get ready for the PFT, and you're still having to get ready for this chemistry test, and you're still having to shine your shoes and get ready for this knowledge test, et cetera, et cetera. And so it was just in my mind, based on my training to that point, not enough time in the day for the reflection that I needed in order to make some changes to my habit pattern. And you're just trying to survive, and you're just showing up every day, one step at a time. So that made it very difficult: the inability for me to study, to not know how to study, the prioritization of tasks. I loved the military piece, and I probably spent more time on that than I should have spent on other things.   My roommates would often comment on the fact that I would be shining my shoes for hours, and I would bypass the need to study until the last minute, until the test came. And that didn't work out very well for me. The other thing I would tell you is this: I wouldn't say that I got homesick, but it was a long way from home. It really was, and so going home really helped to fill my cup back up in terms of just being able to reacclimate with my family and those that were around me — extended family, church, friends, et cetera. It was a long way from home.   I developed a lot of great friends in my squadron. We were in the same squadron all four years, Way of Life committee, gospel choir at the time as well. And then this team of friends that I had on the Cadet Honor Guard as well. What an interesting year that was on the Cadet Honor Guard. But we became incredibly close, and they're still close to this day.   Naviere Walkewicz 14:47 So, I'd like to talk more about the Honor Guard, but before we get there, I think it's important for people to understand that when you find yourself in those tough situations in life and in experiences, how did you pull yourself out of that? You know, you obviously got through. So, something had to change. How did you maneuver that?   Brig. Gen. Marks 15:06 So, I will start by saying this: I talked to my parents a lot, and their support was incredibly helpful for me. They approached it from a different perspective. You know, I learned a lot of great things from both of my parents: hard work, my father's work ethic, my mother and unconditional love and what that truly means. And so, when I'm talking to my parents about the rigors of the Academy experience, my mom would say, “You know, baby you can just quit and come on home and go to Georgia Tech. It's right around the corner, and we'd love to have you, and you don't need this.” And my dad would say, “You better not quit. If you come home, it's for Christmas and you're going back.” And reflecting on both of those comments, my mother was basically saying, “No matter what, we're gonna' love you.” My dad was saying, “No matter what, you can do this, I know you can do it.” And the amalgamation of those emotions and those messages really helped me a lot. It let me know that no matter what, I have support, but I also have the confidence of my parents as well, that leaning on friends is — the friend groups that I talked about as well was really important. And then to a large extent, I would say this: The ability to dig deep inside and pull yourself up even when you are struggling, or even when you are faltering, to be able to show up the next day is really, really important, that grit, that resilience — the thing that we preach to our cadets about now we try to instill in them through the rigors of the Academy experience. It's really important. It's not only important at the Air Force Academy, it's important throughout life, because life obviously throws so many different curveballs your way, right?   Naviere Walkewicz 17:11 I appreciate that you shared that leaning into your support network, not only for their love and their confidence in you, but also it sounds like there was a bit of asking for help and what that was, and so I think that's important for people to hear too. While you are having to pull yourself up, there's no shame in asking for help along the way.   Brig. Gen. Marks 17:27 Not at all. And I would tell you, my mother has so many letters at home and letters that I don't even remember writing during my time at the Air Force Academy, where I was explaining to her different things that were going on that would bring a smile to my face now, because I would be shocked that I would have said these things to my mother or my father in terms of what was taking place and the help that I perhaps needed at the time.   Naviere Walkewicz 17:53 That's great perspective. So, you mentioned Honor Guard, and what an incredible year. I was not part of Honor Guard, but I did appreciate how they helped us stay militarily ready. What was that journey like for you?   Brig. Gen. Marks 18:08 Hard. It was very, very difficult. What I would say is this: So the Cadet Honor Guard attracted me because of the discipline that they had, that they have because of what they represented for the institution as well. These were the cadets that in every formation, carried our nation's flag. These were the cadets that were held up as the example of what a good uniform looked like and what military professionals should strive to look like and resemble and the precision with which they drilled was incredibly impressive to me. And so, when they had an opportunity to showcase what they were about to the fourth-class cadets at the time, so that we could show interest in different clubs, et cetera…   Naviere Walkewicz 19:02 Because you had to try out for honor guard. Is that correct, sir?   Brig. Gen. Marks 19:06 I'm trying to think if I would call it a try-out.   Naviere Walkewicz That's probably not the right word.   Brig. Gen. Marks I think it's probably one of the greatest examples that I can talk to about just showing up, which is to say, “Come one, come all, and there's going to be a lot of physical activity, a lot of running, a lot of drill work, et cetera, all meant to condition you and build your endurance for challenging times when you're in formation, and bad weather and things of that nature, because you know, when you're carrying the nation's flag, it's a no-fail mission, and you can't drop it. And it doesn't matter that it's 20 degrees and 50 knots of wind, you can't drop it.” And so how do I build that into you: the importance of what you're doing means to not only this institution, not only to the Cadet Wing, but to the nation as well? It was a grueling year. It was a hard year. And so I think we started probably with 70-ish fourth-class cadets, and our team ended up at the conclusion at about 16. And that was our team, and that was the team that we carried forth throughout the remainder of our time at the Air Force Academy. And again, I still stay in touch with them to this day. It was a fantastic group of people.   Naviere Walkewicz 20:35 That's incredible. So aside from Honor Guard and some of the time that you spent as a cadet, let's talk about your leadership as a cadet, because you've had multiple positions of leadership.   Brig. Gen. Marks 20:47 So, the two that resonate most with me right now, and that I gained a tremendous amount from — the summer leading into my two-degree year I was the Basic Cadet Training group training non-commissioned officer. That's a mouthful, and so the privilege of being able to, and I'm gonna' use air quotes, “greet” every new appointee as they arrived on the bus to the base of the ramp was given to me, and it was quite an honor. And so, I got to get on the bus and welcome every single basic cadet in the Class of 1998. I will never forget that. And then the next summer, I was the Basic Cadet Training commander, like you were talking about in your earlier comments,   Naviere Walkewicz I definitely recall that.   Brig. Gen. Marks I had a lot of fun, and beyond the fun that you have as cadre during Basic Cadet Training, I had a lot of fun in this regard. As the training NCO, seeing the progress, the development of the basic cadets from I-day, or from that first day of basic training, until the Acceptance Day Parade, if you will, or until we handed them off to the Jacks Valley cadre was something that I really appreciated, because it was very, very noticeable: the changes in drill, the changes in customs and courtesies, the changes in uniform wear, the changes in Mitchell Hall decorum, the changes in how they kept their rooms, et cetera. It was noticeable. And I really appreciated being able to see the fruit of the labor of the cadre. As the BCT commander in so much that you can learn executive-level leadership as a cadet, it taught me a lot about that. So this is the first time that I had an opportunity to conduct my own staff meetings, to build my own staff, to chart a vision, to set objectives, to hold accountable. It taught me a tremendous amount beyond the fun and the great memories of walking across the stage with my taps on during the Fourth of July at A-Hall, which I absolutely still remember to this day, I absolutely remember to this day. But both of those experiences are indelible for me at this point. And I talked to the BCT cadre about them now, because I want them to know that this time that they have is so precious, precious not only because of the memories that they're going to make, but precious because of the impact that they're going to have on these basic cadets. They will remember them forever. They will remember them forever.   Naviere Walkewicz 23:30 Truth. So, I think one of the things that is so unique about that: You said, it was the first time you had the experience of conducting kind of your own operations, or what that looked like, the battle rhythm, the vision. I think a lot of our listeners, you know, they look at you, you're a general, you've been a leader. You know all this. What are some of the things you learned about yourself in that experience that maybe you would share just some lessons in leadership in the early parts of your leadership journey?   Brig. Gen. Marks 23:55 So, I learned very early on, probably as a three degree, that standards really, really matter. It crystallized for me as a probably a three degree, and it just continued to resonate throughout the rest of my career that standards matter greatly in our profession, and perhaps across all walks of life. They matter because of the fact that if we allow someone to not be questioned about meeting standards, we will likely allow further deterioration down the road and erosion down the road, which could lead to catastrophic occurrences. And I've seen it in numerous instances, whether we're talking about accidents, aircraft accidents, whether we're talking about units that have toxic cultures. Because oftentimes it starts with the breadcrumbs that you can walk back to the erosion of standards. There's a line that I love in John Wick. I'm a big John Wick fan. The fourth movie, the bad guy, I don't remember his name, said that his father used to tell him, “How you do anything is how you do everything.” And that is so powerful to me. It is so incredibly powerful. “How you do anything is how you do everything.” I believe that. I truly, truly do. And I learned that for the really, for the first time, as a three degree. I would also tell you perception matters. And I learned that as a firstie as well. How you conduct yourself — as Patton would say, “You're always on parade.” It's important. And if your staff thinks that you are cutting corners here or showing favoritism there, whether that's true or not, it's their reality, and they are going to respond based on how they view their reality, how they view the world in that context. And so, I as a firstie through the experience of the BCT group commander, began to truly pay attention to what perceptions I was perhaps enabling. How about I put it that way? Those are two that come to mind in terms of lessons in leadership that I learned here at the Air Force Academy. When I talk about the idea of building a staff and running a staff meeting, they seem minor. Building the staff was important because it was at that time that I realized that while I may have some things that I'm pretty good at, there are a lot of things that I'm not, and I want to surround myself with people that are good in those areas that I'm not. And so I was very, very deliberate in who I surrounded myself with from a BCT group staff perspective. And then I would also say it's important to, especially when you walk into a group for the first time, to know what you're going to say, to have an agenda for how you want to run things. Because that first impression when you walk in as the leader, as the boss, as the commander, et cetera, it's gonna matter. It is absolutely gonna matter, and you will never have another opportunity to make a good first impression. And so, I could go on and on. I learned a lot from my experiences here in leadership at the Air Force Academy.     Naviere Walkewicz Those are excellent examples.     Brig. Gen. Marks That's why I wanted to come back. While I understood what standards meant and the importance of them as a three degree, I didn't fully put together the impact that the Academy had on me until I was a captain. Leaving here, probably like you and others, I drove away as fast as I could.   Naviere Walkewicz The rear-view mirror…   Brig. Gen. Marks Absolutely, and I told myself that I would never be back here.   Naviere Walkewicz Really?   Brig. Gen. Marks I really did at that time, because enough time hadn't passed to allow me to reconcile all of the wonderful things that had taken place in my development during that four-year period. And it wasn't until I was a captain that I realized that who I was as a function of the Air Force was in large part due to the development that I had received at the Air Force Academy. I credit my parents as well, for sure, but the Air Force Academy, for sure, had a lot to do with that, and I wanted to give that back to other cadets.   Naviere Walkewicz 29:03 Was that in a moment of reflection that you realized that, or was that — did something happen where you were like, “Wow, that's something that I kind of took from the Academy.”? How did you come to that realization?   Brig. Gen. Marks 29:15 I was having — a lot of positive things occurred to me in my career. At that point, I was having a lot of successes, and at some point, I thought about the fact that while certainly I am truly blessed, and certainly there is some luck that plays into that as well, I at some point, through introspection, just kind of look back on the journey that I had gone through from being the knucklehead kid from Atlanta, Georgia, to being this captain in the Air Force, and the metamorphosis that occurred and how that happened. And, so I can only attribute it — some of that, again, is the development over time, when your parents are teaching you things and instilling values and virtue into you, and at the time, when you're a know-it-all teenager, you don't think that it's sinking in, but it does, and it shapes you over time. So, some of it's that, but some of it was the Academy itself. I will tell you this: So, there was a program that I participated in as a junior, I guess, in high school, where I got to come to the Academy for an overnight visit. And I stayed with a cadet, and what I remember about that is this: So I think I stayed two nights. But the first night I went to a pay phone to call a friend, and there was a $20 bill at the top of the pay phone. And so, I went back to the room to tell the cadet, “Hey, somebody left some money there,” and he said, “Don't worry about it. Whoever left it, they'll remember that they left it there, and they'll come back and get it.” And I was bewildered. I was like, I don't understand how that's possible. OK, so the next night, I went to the same pay phone, and it was still there. And I was blown away, and I never forgot that, that this is a place where honor really, really matters. And certainly my parents have integrity, and certainly they, you know, preached and instilled those types of values, but here at the United States Air Force Academy, it was practiced every single day, and it was visibly discernible to me throughout all facets of the Academy experience that undergirding these, you know, push-ups that I was doing and this chemistry test that I was taking, et cetera, was this honor code and these core values that all of us together share. And I just absolutely love that. Reflecting on that over the course of seven years changed my life, truly, for the better.   Naviere Walkewicz 32:15 Thank you for sharing that story. And I actually got chill bumps just thinking about, well, I mean, but you're, right now, you can't think about a lot of places where you can leave something and it's probably still going to be there, or if it was identifiable, it would probably been returned. So, I think that is something we can be so proud of. So, you mentioned, sir, some of your successes. They were kind of, you know, happening outside of the Academy once you'd graduated. Let's talk about what your career looked like and what those successes were.   Brig. Gen. Marks 32:50 So, I was a casual lieutenant. And I guess the claim to fame that I have is that I was Gen. Lorenz's casual lieutenant. So Gen. Lorenz was the commandant immediately after I graduated, went on to become a four-star general, and he is still incredibly active here in the Academy community, and being his casual lieutenant, specifically, his special projects officer, was enlightening in a lot of different ways. Gen. Lorenz is a great leader. He's a unique leader as well. And I learned a lot from being in his space, being in his presence, and seeing how he conducted business. Interestingly enough, when you walk up to the office spaces of the Cadet Wing where my office is, in the hallway is a display of all the previous commandants and their biographies. That was one of my projects as a lieutenant, believe it or not, a long, long, long, long time ago. And so, it gave me an opportunity to be able to research all of the previous commandants to that point and see the commonalities between them as well. So I did that for a little less than a year, and then I went to pilot training. Pilot training was hard. Pilot training was very, very hard. In fact, I came back, if I recall correctly, either in the middle of pilot training or just as I was graduating to talk to the Cadet Wing, the Class of 1998 — one of the classes, '98 or '99 — invited me back to talk at M5.   Naviere Walkewicz I'd like to say it was us.   Brig. Gen. Marks I would like to say it was you all too.   Naviere Walkewicz Can I claim it?   Brig. Gen. Marks And you all gave me the bird, and it was wonderful, and I still have that bird in my office to this day. And I talked about how hard pilot training was, but maybe you'll remember this. I listed the top five hardest things that I've ever done in my life to that point, and I can't remember — I remember No. 1, but I can't remember the exact order, but it was something along the lines of the four-degree year, the entire cadet experience, pilot training, SERE at the time, and my four-degree Honor Guard experience was No. 1 for sure. But all of that to say, just being able to come back to the Academy was a tremendous honor, especially for this silly second, actually, I was a first lieutenant at the time. So went to pilot training and then was selected to be able to stay at pilot training and be an instructor. I went from Columbus to Vance Air Force Base and did that for three years in the T-1, which I absolutely loved. The T-1, that aircraft was probably, if I had the resources, if I was well healed, I would buy myself a T-1 and if I could afford the maintenance. I absolutely love flying that plane and enjoyed my time in AETC. And really, there's nothing special about me. When you enjoy what you're doing and feel like you have a passion for it, oftentimes you're going to do well. I think that's that holds true for just about anybody. I did pretty well in the T-1. After that, I went to an internship at the Pentagon, and so I was there on 9/11 and I got my master's in D.C., left there. After that, I went to Tinker Air Force Base. I did not want to go fly AWACS, and I love AWACS now, but I did not at the time. And I remember when I drove up to the gate for the first time after my year in D.C., and the Security Forces airmen that saw me at the gate asked me, “Are you OK?” just based on the, luckily, based on the look on my face after driving cross country. But what was special about Tinker is that that is where I truly learned, as I would call it, meat-and-potatoes flying, stick-and-rudder flying, no kidding, no thrills and frills. In the AWACS aircraft, you've got to know how to move that jet where you need it to move. You've got to know how to compensate for the aerodynamics of the roto-dome when you're refueling, you've got to know how to fly. And I so it was very enjoyable in that regard, and just being operational was enjoyable. Tinker, though, what I will always credit Tinker for is this: Tinker is where I met my wife.   Naviere Walkewicz 37:15 So I was gonna' ask when the magic happened.   Brig. Gen. Marks 37:19 Yeah, it happened at Tinker. We met through a mutual friend and so, interestingly enough, I always say that the two best decisions I ever made in my entire life, I show on my left and my right hand: my wedding ring on my left, my class ring on my right. Best decisions I've ever made for myself. My wife is retired Air Force 23 years, and she was a first lieutenant, I was a captain. We met through a mutual friend and became friends, and over time, over a period of about a year and a half, we started dating. I asked her to marry me after another year and a half or so, probably a little longer than I should have waited. So, I arrived in 2002, we were married in 2005.   Naviere Walkewicz 37:59 Was her uniform better than yours, sir.   Brig. Gen. Marks 38:05 Oh, goodness, no. So my wife, she will listen to this. My wife would tell you that she has had a wonderful 23-year Air Force journey. Started off with 13 years enlisted time and went to OTS, et cetera. My wife would tell you that I am, I think the term is, I am very “ate up” in terms of the military. Hopefully your listeners know what that means.   Naviere Walkewicz 38:32 Yes.   Brig. Gen. Marks She was not, at all. Not at all. That was not her personality.   Naviere Walkewicz They say opposites attract.   Brig. Gen. Marks 38:35 But I think really, more than anything, what I loved about her, beyond her candor and her honesty, was her compassion as well, her intellect, her ability to be able to see the world in a different way than I saw it — for us to respect each other's opinions about different things, for her difference of a net of opinion, but how she viewed the Air Force and her journey through the Air Force differently than I viewed mine. But we respected each other's nonetheless. And my wife is the reason why I'm still serving and I say that because of this, if my wife was not still in love with this Air Force journey, I would have stopped. I absolutely would have, because being married — and our family is, I hate to say it, is more important to me, truly it is. And so, I would have absolutely stopped. But she loves it. I loathe PCSing. Can't stand it. I'm in a great career field, but my wife loves it, loves the excitement, loves thinking about what's next. And so as long as she's enjoying it, I'm enjoying it too. Yeah, she's my best friend, my best friend for sure. So, we met after that, got married. Fast forward, I left Tinker and went to a Staff assignment in Suffolk, Virginia, stayed there for about three years, went back to the T-1 as a director of operations, a commander in the 99th of Tuskegee Airmen heritage. Then I went to National War College, went to Staff, went back to Tinker, 10 years as the vice wing commander, Offut as the wing commander, back to Staff again, and then here as the commandant.   Naviere Walkewicz 40:32 So, when did the idea trickle back to the mind of, “I want to get back to the Academy?” How did that come into play? Was that just a natural progression of your career? Or how? How does one navigate that?   Brig. Gen. Marks 40:43 So, it was at the time this realization that it had changed me so much and so positively. How can I be a part of another person's just incredible admiration for the experience and appreciation for the experience that they had while they were here? And so, I started investigating becoming an AOC, because at the time, that was where my status in life was in terms of rank, and was the most appropriate, if you will. It just didn't work out for me in terms of the timing.   Naviere Walkewicz 41:24 So, you'd already been looking throughout your career to come back.   Brig. Gen. Marks 41:27 At different points in my career, so about the seven-year point is when I said, “No, I would really like to go back and give back.” And now it's a function of trying to maneuver the timing and all of the other facets that make up an assignment and career progression to try to see how that could work. As an Air Force intern, that counted as my in-residence intermediate developmental education. And so, because of that, I was fast-tracked to staff immediately. And so, timing just didn't work in terms of that intermediate level, getting back to the Academy and making a difference. And so, the next opportunity for me was as a lieutenant colonel, because at that time, our group commanders were group AOCs and they were lieutenant colonels, the opportunity didn't present itself and command of a flying squadron did, and so I absolutely jumped on that with both feet. The idea kind of was off in the back portions of my brain after graduating from command and it didn't come back into the forefront until I got back to the Pentagon because I view the Pentagon as most people do. You know, it's a necessary evil. There is tremendous virtuous work that takes place at the Pentagon. It really is. And I certainly don't mean to poo-poo it. Staff work is important. It's necessary. I wanted to get back into, no kidding, base, desperately. And it had been 27 years-ish to that point. I'd come back for coronavirus. I was working for Gen. Brown and for Secretary Kim. I came back for corona and that was one of the first times that I had been back. And I knew I had to get back here. And interestingly enough, I brought my check to Doolittle Hall. I wanted to be a life member, and I had my $800 check in my pocket. My wife gave me permission, and I was like, “I'm ready.” And I'll never forget this. I don't remember who I talked to, but she said, “Hey, if you wait just a few more months, it'll be free for everybody.”   Naviere Walkewicz Membership for all graduates!   Brig. Gen. Marks I was like, “Sweet!” And then she happened to look at my ring, and she's like, “You got a chip on your ring. Why don't you hand that over to us? Your buying this ring came with a lifetime warranty.” And I was like, “This is unbelievable. This is like, divine intervention. I gotta get back to this place. I love it.” Yeah, I'm so happy to be back here.   Naviere Walkewicz 44:18 That is wonderful. So maybe before we go into arriving back here, kind of some of the surge of what that experience was like — what were some of the leadership nuggets, or the leaders that you worked either under with as peers, those you learned from that worked under you, that you kind of continued to evolve yourself as a leader. What were some of those that shaped you?   Brig. Gen. Marks 44:39 So, I think I will start with my time at Tinker as a flight commander. I think one of the things that I learned then was the importance of being credible in an operational flying squadron. Yeah. Your worth is, especially in a flying squadron, especially as a CGO, your worth is in how well you fly, speaking for pilots in that career field. And so, when you fast forward that to now, what I tell junior officers is this, “As a CGO, your No. 1 objective, your sole objective, is to be a master of your craft. Nothing else really matters. Being a master at your craft is the recipe for success, and if you are not able to do that, it is going to be difficult for you.” So, I learned that at Tinker Air Force Base, I would say, fast forwarding a little bit further to some of my Staff assignments, I would imagine, one of the reasons why I have never been incredibly fond of Staff is because I have — there has never been a good fit for me in terms of the staff assignments that I've been in. I could argue maybe the last one was perhaps, but where I'm going is this: It taught me the need to be able to be adaptable to learn as you go, to be open to learning, and to be humble enough to ask a lot of questions. And I think that that's a tremendous leadership trait to have, to humble yourself to your team, to come in and say, “I don't know everything. I don't know all that you all are doing.” Your stories even, “Please help me to understand. Please teach me.” So Staff, for all of the pains at times, really has developed me to have a better appreciation for that. I would tell you in command, “Oh, my goodness, command is all I ever want to do,” which is both naive and probably a very elementary way of thinking about things I just love command, and command has taught me so much.   Naviere Walkewicz 47:16 What do you love about command?   Brig. Gen. Marks 47:20 So, command is special because there isn't really, not really. There isn't period another position in the military where you are statutorily and regulatorily responsible for mission and people, nothing else. There is no other position in the Department of Defense military like command and to — especially at the unit level, the squadron level — to have such an immediate impact on mission like you are able to, as a squadron commander, and have such a positive impact, direct impact on airmen's lives. It is so incredibly fulfilling. And as you progress and command at higher levels, the direct impact on individuals lives lessens, but the direct impact on mission grows exponentially. I absolutely, not only that, but as you command at higher levels. While the impact, and I probably should have said it this way, the impact that you would have on so many individual airmen's lives' lessons, the impact that you can have on an individual airman's life magnifies based on rank. It is significant also. And I always — one of the things that I tell people all the time is the… it's an oversimplification, but the only reason to have rank is to do good, is to do good things, to make things happen in a positive way that affect positively mission and benefit airmen's lives. That's it. That's all. And if it if rank becomes something different than that for you, you are in the wrong business, or we've given it to the wrong person, if I'm being honest with you.   Naviere Walkewicz 49:11 Thank you for sharing that. So how did you find out that you — how did it work to become the commandant of cadets? Is that something that you're selected for? How did you find out?   Brig. Gen. Marks 49:23 So, I — well for your listeners, there's a dream sheet, if you will. We have a module that we go into and identify things, jobs, positions, perhaps even locations that we think that our skill-set matches up nicely for or that match our family circumstances, and in that module, I talked about the fact that I wanted to be able to give back to the Air Force Academy in this way. And talked about the fact that for 20 years or so, give or take, I have been trying to get back here to be able to have an impact. And I listed some of the things that I felt enabled me to have that type of impact. And then I got a call from the colonel's group or the general officer's group. I can't remember which one, probably general officer's group, that said, “Hey, the superintendent would like to interview you.” And I said, “OK, very good. I look forward to talking to a superintendent.” And what I will tell you is this: It is very difficult to prepare for an interview like that. Number one, you know, in the short amount of time that you're given to prepare for it. And then two, you just really don't know what you're going to be asked. And my knowledge of the Academy was very, very dated, you know, for 27 years ago when I graduated. But I said, “OK, let's go. Let's do it.” And so, I talked to him on the way home from the Pentagon in my car driving home, and we had a really nice conversation. And I remember parking in our driveway, and I remember staying in the driveway for about 15 more minutes as the conversation concluded, and I remember going into the house, and I remember talking to my wife, and I said, “You know, there are probably a number of people that interviewed, and they are, I'm positive, incredibly well suited for the position. There's always somebody better.” That's another great lesson that the Academy taught me, is there's always somebody better. But I said, “I think I feel like that went well. I don't know that I could have given any more to that interview.” Eventually, the superintendent made a decision. The superintendent had to vet that decision through higher levels as well. And eventually you come out on a list and it is announced that this is your next job.     Naviere Walkewicz That's how you found out? You saw the list?   Brig. Gen. Marks So admittedly, you know, birdies are talking to me ahead of time. But at the same time, you are just as a professional, more than anything else that is, that's meant to be private information for just and your family to kind of get your mind wrapped around those types of things. Because, as we've seen over the course of numerous years now, sometimes these lists come out later, and if you were to find out solely by that, that's not a lot of time to house hunt. That's not a lot of time to arrange schools. That's not a lot of time to arrange PCSing, you know, those types of things. So, and in this particular case, I needed to PCS from the Pentagon. I needed to perform a promotion ceremony. I needed to work a change of command ceremony here as well. And so, my wife and I joke, now this last move was the most difficult move we've ever, ever had, because I did all that in 30 days.   Naviere Walkewicz 53:27 Wow, it was a lot, but this was probably one that you were both excited for, not just her.   Brig. Gen. Marks 53:31 Oh, we were. The amount of YouTube videos that we watched in our household about basic training and about the Wings of Blue, just to get our kids excited about this, which is why, I mean — there is no excuse for not knowing what you're walking into at the Air Force Academy, because there are thousands of videos out there. Yeah, and so we were very excited, and the kids were incredibly well educated on what they could expect, everything from the wildlife that's on the installation, to the climate and the altitude, to what cadet life was going to be like. And so, we were really excited. And I remember — and because the kids had never been here at all, my wife and I had taken a trip here early in our marriage, our kids had never seen it and the excitement over the five days of driving was just really, really building up. And so, when we finally were able to see the big white box on the horizon,     Naviere Walkewicz Yes, the chapel-in-the-box.   Brig. Gen. Marks Yeah, when we were able to see that, and I was pointing to it as we were driving, they were just, they were just absolutely bubbling over with excitement. It was amazing.   Naviere Walkewicz 54:34 How did you feel when you saw it?   Brig. Gen. Marks 54:38 Very, very excited. A little overwhelmed. Also, I would tell you, I was really — I was both naive and I was also incredibly humbled and respectful of what I was walking into. Naive in this regard: I felt like, my goodness, I don't know that I've ever been more prepared for a position that I'm walking into than being the commandant of cadets at the Air Force Academy. Because I graduated from here. I surely have to be well prepared and well suited. You know nothing about the inner workings of the Air Force Academy as a cadet. Nothing, nothing. And so, there was so much to learn about governance, not only that — I will tell you this: I had some troubles academically. I never had any run-ins from an honor perspective. I never had any discipline issues, either. And I don't say that to sound self-congratulatory. I say that to show my ignorance, because there were significant gaps in my knowledge and my understanding of how to manage the Cadet Wing, because I had never had any experience with honor, I'd never had any experience with discipline, and so I had to dive into those when I got here and learn that where somebody else might not have had to do that. Very respectful of what I was — the Academy is an incredibly special place. It is also, I don't say this, I don't mean this pejoratively, it is also a lightning rod for attention. There is always attention being drawn to the Air Force Academy and coming into the institution knowing that, it certainly had my attention up front, and I realized also that the opportunity to shape 4,000 cadets and to be able to be the one with a great, amazing team responsible for their military development, their character and leadership development, to ensure that on graduation they had achieved everything that they needed to do in terms of commissioning education to be responsible for their honor education, to be the one that is ultimately overseeing cadet life, it's an awesome, awesome responsibility, and I had a tremendous amount of respect for it when I came into the institution. So overwhelmed in that regard.   Naviere Walkewicz 57:22 I almost could feel through your eyes what you just expressed in coming back and seeing the Academy again and I think this is a wonderful time, because some of us have had the opportunity, whether it's been recent reunions, to hear you speak at reunion briefings, to catch a glimpse of you know, some of the changes or some of the things that you've brought back. Maybe this is an opportunity to share what's Academy life like now, but through the eyes of the commandant. What would you like to share with our listeners?   Brig. Gen. Marks 57:49 So, I would tell you and your listeners that the life of a cadet has changed and is going to change even more. So, I would start much more strategic and talk about this geo-strategically. Being in an era of great power competition, we recognize that because of who our competitor is, because of the advances that they have made, et cetera, it is incredibly important. It's critical for us to rethink how we do just about anything. Rethink how we train, how we develop, how we organize, how we employ force, how we sustain that employment of force, everything. At the Air Force Academy we're in a developmental business and so it's important for us to step back and ask ourselves, with no indictment on the past and the cadets and the lieutenants, rather that we have created and that we have graduated, but right now today, are we doing everything that we can to ensure that the lieutenants that we graduate are ready to lead on Day 1 and win ultimately, should deterrence fail in great power competition? In that deep dive, we have to explore some of the training techniques that we employ here and whether they are applicable on the outside and the force the greater force, or whether they are potentially creating a hazard of negative transfer, we have to ask ourselves whether some of the traditions that we enjoy, or that we have enjoyed here at the United States Air Force Academy, are appropriate for this day and age, send the wrong message, or are potentially harmful in terms of our culture and our climate. Deep diving into all those things, one of the things that I've come to the realization about is this: What I want to be able to do is ensure that a cadet that has graduated — and I know that I won't be here for four years, but assuming that I was — meeting a cadet on I-Day and walking with them through four years, I want to make sure that they feel like they got their money's worth from a military development perspective or military training perspective. And here's what I mean by that: Anecdotally, as I talked to cadets, hundreds of cadets, and talked about their journey at the Air Force Academy, one of the things that I found is that the institution and the curriculum challenged them as a four degree. I think that is universal. But I would also say, and I would imagine, that many of your listeners who are grads would agree that once you were out of your four-degree year, the institution allowed for it to be, if this was your desire, very easy for you to coast militarily, or, dare I say, potentially hide militarily. And I didn't want that. I wanted essentially the same level of rigor that is placed on you academically and the same level of rigor that is placed on you physically and athletically to be placed on you militarily. Said another way, the same sweaty palms that you get in anticipation of your GR are the same sweaty palms that you get in anticipation of your PFT. I want you to have an anticipation of your inspection, or an anticipation of your formation, or an anticipation of your knowledge test, et cetera, throughout your four years. And so, we have evolved our thinking and more importantly, our focus to developing across all four years with the same level of diligence and the same level of rigor that we placed in our fourth-class development. And so the moniker, or the catch phrase, the bumper sticker that we use is that we have transition from a focus on the fourth-class system, to a four-class system, where you can expect, as a rising three degree, or as a rising two degree, to be taught what we need you to do in terms of your military development, expectations and responsibilities, let loose to go practice those things, those supervisory skills, et cetera; assessed on those things, taught warfighting skills as well, that will prepare you for great power competition, et cetera, et cetera. And I can go into a lot more detail, but suffice it to say, this is a significant shift in how we've been operating, and it's a shift for the better, because this is what our nation needs. This is putting us in a better position to be ready on Day 1 to lead and to win on Day 1. So, I'm really excited about it.   Naviere Walkewicz That is exciting. Brig. Gen. Marks We're also bringing some rigor back into expectations about what it means to be a member of the Cadet Wing. So, in other words, we are increasing the number of formations. We are increasing the number of inspections. We are putting our money where our mouth is with respect to the fact that we say and rightly so, that we value character. We are now adding that too as a function of how we assess from a military performance average perspective, how we assess character, because it's so important, it's so critical. There are a lot of changes that are happening for the better, and these changes are going to affect not only the readiness of our cadets, but it's going to affect the culture of our Wing as well in a positive way. It's just going to take some time.   Naviere Walkewicz 1:04:00 That's outstanding. Do you see that trickling up as well into some of the officers that are involved in this, with you, and shaping the cadets — so the AOCs, also your AMTs, and how they're doing that? Is that part of this as well?     Brig. Gen. Marks 1:04:13 It is, and I'll be honest with you, I don't want to be short-sighted or to minimize the impact that the entire institution is going to have. Believe it or not, the touch points that our faculty have, our coaches and staff have, they are abundant, and we would be doing ourselves and our cadets a disservice if all of us in lockstep were — not attacking the problem, but weren't in this together in terms of this development and this approach that we're taking. And so we are. We absolutely are. The dean and I are classmates. We have a tremendous and positive relationship, same with the athletic director and the executive director of Athletics as well. And together we have coffee on a regular basis, and we share ideas and talk about our approaches so that we can together positively impact our cadets. So yes, it is an all-of-USAFA approach and an all-in approach.   Naviere Walkewicz 1:05:22 Absolutely love that. Well, I have two questions. I want to give them to you so you have a chance to think about. The first one being, you know, as a commandant, what keeps you up at night? I think that's something on the minds of our listeners. But then also, would you share maybe, what's something that you're so proud of that's happened since you've been here kind of under your leadership, and maybe something that you're not so proud of? And you can answer those however you'd like.   Brig. Gen. Marks 1:05:48 What keeps me up at night is the resilience of cadets. And let me explain that just a little bit. In no way is that an indictment of a generational thing; this generation of cadets is less. Not at all. It's me talking about human behavior and saying that our program is difficult, it's challenging, and individuals respond in different ways to that, and what keeps me up is an individual feeling like there is no way out. That bothers me a lot. It really, realy, really concerns me a tremendous amount. And so I spend a lot of time talking to our command teams about this and about the need for us to administratively ensure that we are being as efficient as possible when we adjudicate certain matters, because what we don't want to do is leave someone dangling in terms of decision making for months and months on end, because that exacerbates that problem and my concern. In terms of what I am most proud of — so, the jury is still out, but here's what I'll say: I'm very proud of a lot of things. I'm proud of the team we've assembled. I'm proud of the work that is being done at the Staff level. I'm proud of the work that our commanders and our AMTs are doing. Our commanders, our AOCs. I am also very proud of the partnership that we have across the installation. That partnership has enabled us to make a significant change to what is called the schedule of calls, the construct that defines how cadets, day to day, spend their time, essentially. We have made a significant change to it that enables us to provide a more professionalized delivery of commissioning education. It has allowed for us to provide some white space in cadets lives, significant white space. It has allowed for us to build in time for unit fitness. Unit fitness being the operative phrase there, because the unit is so important and developing that cohesion is so important. It ha

Mengikuti drill team adalah kegiatan popular bagi anak sekolah di Amerika Serikat. Di Seattle, Washington, ada kelompok yang memukau penonton selama lebih dari 70 tahun. Kelompok ini didirikan untuk gadis-gadis Tionghoa Amerika. Simak Laporan VOA berikut ini.

Kate Constable and Corey Parson go on a 2:00 Drill, discussing their favorite bets to make for today's Team USA Final Exhibition Matchup before the Olympics start up against Germany, and for the ACC Football Season, with the Conference's Media Day taking place today in Charlotte. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dive into the chilling tale of precision, passion, and peril with 'One Drill Team From Murder.' This episode drills deep into the story of Jenny Isford, whose life took a tragic twist faster than a halftime routine. Join us as we unpack the layers of this no-longer cold case, where every beat of the drum echoes the secrets hidden just beneath the surface. Tune in—this is one routine you won't want to miss.Hosted by Jenna Swanson and Kelly DeVriesProduced and edited by Kelly DeVriesTheme music by Erik SwansonOpening music: One Time by Jeremy BlackJoin our Patreon: patreon.com/odfmpodcastSocials: @odfmpodcasthttps://linktr.ee/odfmpodcastBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/odfm--5500021/support.

Dive into the chilling tale of precision, passion, and peril with 'One Drill Team From Murder.' This episode drills deep into the story of Jenny Isford, whose life took a tragic twist faster than a halftime routine. Join us as we unpack the layers of this no-longer cold case, where every beat of the drum echoes the secrets hidden just beneath the surface. Tune in—this is one routine you won't want to miss.Hosted by Jenna Swanson and Kelly DeVriesProduced and edited by Kelly DeVriesTheme music by Erik SwansonOpening music: One Time by Jeremy BlackJoin our Patreon: patreon.com/odfmpodcastSocials: @odfmpodcasthttps://linktr.ee/odfmpodcastBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/odfm--5500021/support.

Welcome to your Paulding County News Podcast.  I'm Melissa Carter, along with Doug Harding.  We get your thoughts in the immigration issues found after a Georgia student us murdered.  Plus, it only comes around every 4 years but what is the purpose of Leap Day anyway? We'll tell you.  But first, let's take a look at our top stories     PC News   Tragic news out of Paulding County as Deputy Allen Rakestraw, a stalwart of the sheriff's office, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 43 after suffering a medical emergency at home. Deputy Rakestraw, who served for nearly 14 years, fulfilled his lifelong dream of joining the Paulding County Sheriff's Office to rising through the ranks from jailer to deputy. Despite his full-time duties in the uniform patrol division, Rakestraw also dedicated himself to maintaining the sheriff's office law enforcement radios and even ran his own contracting company on the side. Rakestraw's funeral is scheduled for today. This from The Patch.     PC News   Early voting us underway for the presidential primary.  Here are the places you can vote in Paulding County: Watson Government Complex now through March 8th. Dianne Wright Center, also now through March 8th. And at Burnt Hickory Park, March 4th-8th only. Voting begins at 9am and ends at 5pm. This from Paulding County Uncensored.   PC News In a remarkable tale of faith and resilience, 89-year-old Donald Voyles is defying stereotypes as one of the nation's oldest church planters. Voyles, with a history steeped in ministry, has seen his latest venture, Mt. Tabor Community Baptist Church, flourish from a humble beginning to a thriving congregation. Despite his age, Voyles' commitment to spreading the Word remains unwavering. And he's not alone. With Georgia experiencing rapid growth, the state's Baptist Mission Board is investing heavily in church planting efforts, recognizing the urgent need for more places of worship. As Voyles nears his 90th birthday, his passion for preaching and teaching continues to drive him forward, leaving an indelible mark on all who encounter his ministry. This from Kentucky Today.   Weather Stormy weather today, High in Hiram and Dallas 71, Low of 32. Thursday, Partly Sunny.  High in Hiram and Dallas 59, Low 40. More Rain Friday and Cooler.  High in the 40's.   Arrest Report From WSB's Facebook page: New details have emerged regarding Jose Ibarra, accused of murdering college student Laken Riley here in Georgia. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reveal Ibarra was arrested after illegally entering the U.S.,  and was subsequently arrested in New York before making his way South. Barry Joiner The report says innocent until proven guilty while referring to the New York charge for driving uninsured and endangering a child. Well, he wasn't innocent of violating our laws when he came into the country illegally!! Should have been deported. This has to stop.   Kyle Rogers He committed this crime in broad daylight because he thought he'd get away with it because no one knew who he was.   Diane Chadwick Makes me sick thinking what he has been “given” when he crossed the border illegally. He took a life while here……disgusting.   What are your thoughts? Give us a call at (404) 997-8655 and tell us.     Social Media   From the What's Happening in Paulding Facebook page:   What is the rule for fishing on the side of the road? I see a bunch of people doing it here and there and curious what the regulations are on that before I start spot fishing.   Gb Barr As long as it's not from a bridge.   Janet Rogers Demooney lake is 24 hours. We fish all night. Huge catfish in there. You can pull right up to the lake. It's $15 dollars a person. We love it. You are going to need a good net. They are to heavy to get some of them up on the bank.   Sam Mathis Lock and dam in Rome. Is good for night fishing for catfish.   Weird Story Fans and former employees came together outside the last Hooters in West Virginia for a candlelight vigil. Closed since March 2020, the restaurant in Kanawha City is set for demolition to make way for a gas station. What began as a lighthearted joke on social media quickly became a heartfelt tribute, with hundreds paying respects to the eatery known for its hot wings and iconic servers. Organizers were surprised when Hooters' corporate office sent calendars to be distributed among mourners. This from UPI.   Events Tomorrow beginning at 6pm - BlairOutLoud SOLO at Los Magueys Dallas.   Starting Friday - SpongeBob the Musical at Dallas Theater & Civic Center.   March 4th from Noon until 5p - City of Hiram Community Blood Drive at the Events Place in Hiram.   March 5th beginning at 7p - Interstate Poker Night at The Box Sports Bar and Grill in Dallas.   April 24th beginning at 9a - Paulding Cops for Kids Annual Golf Tournament at Creeksside Golf & Country Club in Hiram.       (Interview)       State News   A woman has been apprehended by City of Monroe police for allegedly stealing flowers from gravesites at Rest Haven Cemetery on East Highland Avenue.   Responding to reports on Saturday, officers discovered the suspect near her van, which contained approximately 100 artificial flowers believed to have been taken from the cemetery.   The investigation revealed the flowers were indeed from gravesites, leading to the woman's arrest.   While her identity remains undisclosed, authorities have yet to specify the charges she will face.   This from WSB.     Sports   The Paulding Sports Chronicle & Paulding County High School's JROTC:   In basketball tournament action - the Hiram boys lost to Tri-Cities 45-41, while the North Paulding girls beat Newton, 48-37.   Paulding County High School's Drill Team competed against 20 other area schools, and brought home 7 victory streamers, with 1st Place in the following categories:   Male Armed squad Female Armed squad Female Color guard Male Team Exhibition   PC News Tomorrow is Leap Day, but ever wondered what would happen without a Leap Day? Turns out, it's more than just a quirky calendar quirk. Leap year, with its extra day added to February every four years, serves a vital purpose in keeping our calendar in sync with the Earth's orbit around the sun. Without it, major events would gradually shift, seasons would become misaligned, and holidays like Christmas might end up in the wrong season. That Earth's orbit isn't precisely 365 days long—it's actually about 365.25 days. By adding an extra day every four years, we keep our calendar in harmony with celestial events like equinoxes and solstices. So, now you know, Paulding County. This from Atlanta News First.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Sportlight Podcast, join us for an inspiring conversation with talented college dancers hailing from diverse campuses across the state. Explore the intricacies of the high school drill team world as they unveil the secrets of hard work and share invaluable lessons learned from honing their craft. Get ready for an epic episode where these dynamic dancers spill the beans on the wisdom they wish they had known in their younger days, especially while preparing for region and state drill competitions. Dive into insider tips on how high school dancers can set the stage for a future in dance at the collegiate level. Plus, discover the influential power of uplifting teammates and communities through the art of dance, as these performers take center stage and shine their Sportlight! Especially for Athletes: Website: https://especialyforathletes.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/EspeciallyForAthletes/Twitter: https://twitter.com/E4AfamilyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/especiallyforathletes/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmbWc7diAvstLMfjBL-bMMQ Credits: Hosted by Shad MartinProduced by IMAGINATE STUDIO See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.Support the show: https://especiallyforathletes.com/podcast/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vincent Derek Smith, a dedicated community leader, has been making a positive impact for over a decade through his renowned Drill Team, the Infamous Unstoppables. Founded over 10 years ago, this Drill Team has become a beacon of discipline, teamwork, and artistic expression for its members. Smith's commitment to fostering a sense of community and support goes beyond the drill routines. This holiday season, he is organizing an "Adopt-a-Drill Team Member Christmas Gift Drive" to bring joy to the young participants of his team. Recognizing the challenges many families face, especially during the holidays, Smith's initiative aims to ensure that every member of the Drill Team experiences the warmth of the season. The gift drive is a testament to Smith's dedication to not only honing the drill skills of his team but also nurturing their well-being and creating a sense of belonging. As he orchestrates this heartwarming effort, Smith underscores the importance of community support and the role it plays in the holistic development of the young drill team members. Under Smith's leadership, the Infamous Unstoppables have become more than just a performance group—they are a tight-knit community where members find mentorship, guidance, and a second family. The Christmas gift drive reflects Smith's belief in the power of small gestures to make a significant impact on the lives of these young individuals, fostering a sense of unity and care that extends beyond the drill team performances.Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this last episode before Equine Affaire in Massachusetts we speak with Joyce Voet, coach of the Young Guns Drill Team; Liberty Cunningham from the Pegasus Riders and Dr. Morton, a telehealth veterinarian for Chewy Health. Listen in...HORSES IN THE MORNING Episode 3288 – Show Notes and Links:Hosted by: Allison Rehnborg of Equine Affaire and Coach JennTitle Sponsor: Equine AffaireGuest: Joyce Voet, Coach of the Young Guns Drill TeamGuest: Liberty Cunningham, Member of the Pegasus RidersGuest: Dr. Courtnee Morton, veterinary presenter / telehealth vet for ChewyLink: If you're coming to Equine Affaire in Massachusetts, make sure to come early. It may be our anniversary, but we're giving you the gift! In honor of our 25th anniversary, Equine Affaire will be distributing a limited supply of vouchers to the first twenty-five hundred guests to come through the gates of the Eastern States Exposition. Each voucher will be good for 25% off one item of Affaire Wear at the Equine Affaire Information Booth, located in the Better Living Center. Come early for a chance to get a voucher and then make sure to snag your souvenir of choice at the Equine Affaire Info Booth!To subscribe, search Horses In The Morning in your favorite podcast player!Subscribe to all of the Horse Radio Network shows with our All Shows Feed! Search Horse Radio Network in your favorite podcast player!Follow Horses In The Morning on FacebookTime Stamps:06:24 - Joyce Voet20:39 - Liberty Cunningham34:30 - Dr. Courtnee Morton

In this last episode before Equine Affaire in Massachusetts we speak with Joyce Voet, coach of the Young Guns Drill Team; Liberty Cunningham from the Pegasus Riders and Dr. Morton, a telehealth veterinarian for Chewy Health. Listen in...HORSES IN THE MORNING Episode 3288 – Show Notes and Links:Hosted by: Allison Rehnborg of Equine Affaire and Coach JennTitle Sponsor: Equine AffaireGuest: Joyce Voet, Coach of the Young Guns Drill TeamGuest: Liberty Cunningham, Member of the Pegasus RidersGuest: Dr. Courtnee Morton, veterinary presenter / telehealth vet for ChewyLink: If you're coming to Equine Affaire in Massachusetts, make sure to come early. It may be our anniversary, but we're giving you the gift! In honor of our 25th anniversary, Equine Affaire will be distributing a limited supply of vouchers to the first twenty-five hundred guests to come through the gates of the Eastern States Exposition. Each voucher will be good for 25% off one item of Affaire Wear at the Equine Affaire Information Booth, located in the Better Living Center. Come early for a chance to get a voucher and then make sure to snag your souvenir of choice at the Equine Affaire Info Booth!To subscribe, search Horses In The Morning in your favorite podcast player!Subscribe to all of the Horse Radio Network shows with our All Shows Feed! Search Horse Radio Network in your favorite podcast player!Follow Horses In The Morning on FacebookTime Stamps:06:24 - Joyce Voet20:39 - Liberty Cunningham34:30 - Dr. Courtnee Morton

Seattle's Chinese Community Girls Drill Team is a one of a kind. For over 70 years, the group has brought their own unique style to parades throughout the city. The story of its founding, and its place in the Chinatown International District community, is the focus of a new documentary from director Della Chen titled, “She Marches in Chinatown.”

Professional interior designer and HGTV star, Lauren Makk, is joining Rooted Recovery Stories this week to share her complex and victorious journey through food addiction, sobriety, and redefining the “party girl” persona, all while navigating the challenges of motherhood during a pandemic. Lauren Makk, the Oklahoma raised designer turned media star, uses her bubbly personality to spark conversations about sobriety. Growing up as the only Black person in her classes, Lauren always felt othered, leading her to turn to food as a coping mechanism. After undergoing gastric bypass surgery and losing 140, she developed a new addiction: alcohol. Following a night of drinks with friends, a wake-up call led her to attend her first AA meeting. Join us as Lauren engages in a transparent conversation filled with laughs and heartfelt moments, all while showcasing the joy that comes with sobriety! About Lauren Makk: Lauren Makk is an Interior Designer and DIY Expert, most known for her almost 20 year TV career doing both. She began her journey as an award winning Model Home Designer, when she was cast on TLC's Emmy Award winning ‘Trading Spaces'. Since then, Lauren has appeared on ‘Drill Team' for A&E, the hit daytime talk show ‘FAB Life' for ABC, and ‘Home Made Simple' for the Oprah Winfrey Network. Currently, you can watch her antics as she judges emerging design leaders on ‘Shop Class' for Disney + and ‘Design Star: Next Gen” for HGTV. She also co-hosts the HGTV giveaway specials “Urban Oasis 2022 & 2023” as well as “Smart Home 2023”. . We would love to hear from you! Email us at ROOTED@PROMISES.COM . Watch/Listen/Subscribe: ​⁠​⁠@rootedrecoverystories Insta: ⁠@rootedrecoverystories⁠ URL: ⁠www.rootedrecoverystories.com⁠ __________________ Resources: . Insta: ⁠@mentalhealthamerica⁠ URL: ⁠www.mhanational.org⁠ . Promises Behavioral Health – Treatment help for addiction, mental health/trauma: URL: ⁠www.promisesbehavioralhealth.com⁠ Insta: ⁠@promises_bh⁠ __________________ Get to know our guest: Lauren Makk Insta: ⁠@LaurenMakk Twitter: @LaurenMakk TikTok: @LaurenMakk YouTube: @MamaIMadeIt . Host: Patrick Custer Insta: ⁠@patrick_custer⁠ Watch/Listen/Subscribe: ​⁠​⁠@rootedrecoverystories Insta: ⁠@rootedrecoverystories⁠ URL: ⁠www.rootedrecoverystories.com⁠ . ⁣ .⁣ .⁣ #laurenmakk #nashville #losangeles #interiordesigner #HGTV #UrbanOasis #HGTVSmartHome #trauma #recovery #podcast #mentalhealth #addiction #alcoholism #design #lifestyle #diy #doityourself #homeimprovement #interiordesign #inspiration #purpose #weightloss #losingweight #quitdrinking #tennessee #sobriety #recovery #healing #wellness #soberlife #sober #goodnews #nashvillebusiness #promisesbehavorialhealth #patrickcuster #foodaddiction #foodaddict #foodaddicts

Lauren is one of the most creative people I know and she's got DIY tips for days! She tells me her tricks on how to improve your space on a budget, and how to know what items are worth the splurge. Lauren opens up in a real and raw way about how she made over her own life by choosing to stop drinking. We all have the vices that we turn to in difficult moments, and Lauren's story will help you get your vices under control. This is a can't miss episode, so buckle up and get ready for DIY queen, Lauren Makk.  This week: ·   How Lauren began her career in television by answering a craigslist ad  ·   How to get in touch with your creativity ·   How to elevate your home on a budget ·   Why Lauren decided to stop drinking ·   Why we all numb our feelings sometimes ·   How to live in the moment ·   How to turn your mess into your message Lauren Makk is a Nashville, TN based Interior Designer, DIY Expert, and Television Host. She has captured the hearts and attention of fans near and far with her budget friendly approach to luxury DIY and re-design, and continuing just that as she graces the December 2022 cover of Belle Meade Lifestyle. It isn't every day that you hear the words ‘Luxury' and ‘DIY' in the same sentence, but that's because it hasn't been done before… until Lauren Makk broke out on the DIY scene and quickly started changing people's perception on DIY with every project she does. Many people may know Lauren from her time spent on multiple design shows across many networks including TLC's Emmy Award winning Trading Spaces, A&E's Drill Team as well as co-host on ABC's FABLife. This is one of my favorite quotes from this week's episode:  “You just bring your personality, you bring your skills, you bring your talents, and you let God do the rest.” – Lauren Makk New episodes of The Kim Gravel Show drop every Thursday.   Order my new book: Collecting Confidence.   The audiobook is available on Audible, Google Play, Apple Books, and everywhere books are sold.    Take my confidence quiz at cc.kimgravel.com/quiz   Check out my channel on QVC+ for full video episodes.   Connect with Lauren Makk: Instagram Link Tree   Connect with Kim: YouTube Facebook Instagram TikTok Website   Sponsor: Thank you to Factor for sponsoring the show! Head to factormeals.com/kim50 and use code kim50 to get 50% off your first box! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week the fellas rank and review Cadet Kelly, the 32nd Disney Channel Original Movie.Thanks to Jacob Dixon for the pod musicFollow us on Instagram @play_it_by_earpod

It's the finale episode of Season 4!  It's going to be a bare bones episode again with no intro and no outro.  My voice recovered from strep, only to lose it again by teaching a clinic to forty-five Kindergarteners through 3rd graders.  I'm sure you all can relate.   It's a good thing that our guest on the podcast today holds enough sparkle that she doesn't need a flowery intro and outro!  I'm so excited to be chatting with Sarah Flisowski of Blinn College! The Blinn College dance team has won numerous American Dance and Drill Team collegiate championships, has won eight national titles at the National Dance Alliance (NDA) College Nationals and six national tiles at the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) College Nationals. In 2019, Blinn's dance team made history by claiming national titles in Dance Team Performance Open and Pom Division II. Barland Flisowski is a former member of the Blinn dance team and a graduate of Southwest Texas State University – now Texas State University – in San Marcos, Texas, with a degree in exercise sports science and minor in political science. She was also a member of the dance company Orchesis. She also earned her master's in physical education and health from Prairie View A&M University. Barland Flisowski started her teaching career at Mesquite ISD, where she taught for two years at Berry Middle school. She went on to Carrollton Farmers Branch ISD to become the director of the award-winning RL Turner Lionettes and dance department head. She was the director of the Lionettes for seven years before returning to Blinn as the head coach of the Blinn College dance and cheer teams. Barland Flisowski also is a 20-year staff member with American Dance and Drill Team School, where she has been the Novelty Staff Captain and Social Officer Coordinator.  Sarah has traveled to Florida as a member of ESP Productions, the halftime production company of the Citrus Bowl for over 10 years. She has been a speaker at Drill Team Directors of America and assisted with speaking at Texas Dance Educators Association. Sarah is a member of NDCA, National Dance Coaches Association where she is a Executive Board member, College Division Representative and on the Small College Committee. She has done choreography for high schools all around Texas and beyond and loves working with all dancers and helping them find their place in college dance. Many thanks to all our loyal listeners and guests for making Season 4 of the Larkspur podcast a huge success!  Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any ideas for the podcast or just want to say hi!  You can reach me at melanie@larkspurdance.com.   Connect with Blinn College Dance: https://www.facebook.com/blinndance https://www.instagram.com/blinndance/ https://www.buccaneersports.com/sports/dance/index Connect with Larkspur: Website: https://www.larkspurdance.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larkspurdance/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LarkspurDance/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/LarkspurMelanie

You are how you live and how you live should be fabulous. That's Lauren Makk's motto and the best part is you don't have to break the bank to live her vision. Makk sprung to TV design fame on "Trading Spaces." Her TV career has included stints on shows like "Drill Team" on A&E, "FABlife" alongside Chrissy Teigan and Tyra Banks, "Home Made Simple" on the Oprah Winfrey Network, and "Design Star: Next Gen" on HGTV. Makk grew up in Oklahoma watching her mom flip houses. Her design career took off after college in Los Angeles designing model homes. By 2005, the real estate bubble popped. Answering a Craigslist ad changed the trajectory of Lauren's life. Her penchant for affordable luxury is at the core of her message that everyone deserves to love the feel and look of their home. And, she firmly believes that you can change your mood and outlook by freshening your personal space. On this Dying to Ask: The backstory of how Lauren got her big break on "Trading Spaces" How Lauren constantly re-invents herself and pivots for professional opportunities Two home design changes you can make this weekend that will lift your mood without breaking the bank The lifestyle change Lauren made that keeps her energy high and her personal life on track And learn a lifechanging #Makkhack to remove stubborn price stickers from candles and gifts bought at discount stores

On this episode of the Arts Effect Podcast, we are excited because it's Part 1 of the Finale of our Friday Night Lights series, and we have our students in the building for the very first time! Joining us on this episode will be our Colonels (Molly Scheidt, Ross S. Sterling & Ema Martinez, Lee HS) and Captain (Alyssa Gonzalez, Goose Creek Memorial HS) of our high school drill teams. They are going to be talking about their own experiences leading and participating in drill team, how they balance it with high school life, and everything in between.

Maryn and Kate continue answering all your questions about High School Drill!

Maryn and Kate go over their years of coaching High School Drill Team with a anonymous Q&A!

Gänsehaut garantiert: Die Verantwortlichen haben das Programm des Basel Tattoos 2022 vorgestellt. Das Basel Tattoo findet 2022 zum 15. Mal statt. Die Jubiläumsshow steht unter dem Motto «Swissness, Royals und ganz viel Dudelsack». Rund 1'000 Mitwirkende aus vier Kontinenten werden in der Arena auf dem Kasernenareal in Basel auftreten. Unter anderem das Top Secret Drum Corps, The King's Guard Band and Drill Team aus Norwegen oder die Band of Her Majesty's Welsh Guards aus Grossbritannien. «Ich spüre, dass das Publikum wieder parat ist für grosse Events», freut sich Basel Tattoo-Produzent Erik Julliard. «Es liegt eine grosse Spannung in der Luft», sagt auch Aldo Werlen im Gespräch mit der SRF Musikwelle. Er ist der Dirigent der Swiss Army Central Band, welche ebenfalls am Basel Tattoo 2022 auftreten wird: «Wir sind stolz, dass wir an diesem grossen, internationalen Tattoo die Schweiz repräsentieren dürfen». In der Swiss Army Central Band zieht die Armee die besten Musikerinnen und Musiker der Schweiz zusammen. Die Jubiläumsshow des Basel Tattoos wird zwischen 15. und 23. Juli 2022 insgesamt elf Mal aufgeführt.

Raymond Jones speaks with Scott Jackson, Director of the Virginia International Tattoo, about the Tattoo's upcoming 25th anniversary performances, which feature a triumphant return to Scope Arena, an all-new international cast, a musical tribute to “March King” John Philip Sousa, and an emotional celebration of the resilience of the human spirit.

On this episode of The Young Guides Podcast, Keaton and Kyle give a life update and talk about some things going on in the background of the podcast. Our Website: theyoungguidespodcast.com Drill Team 6 Fishing Excursions: https://dt6fishingexcursions.com Heather's Choice: Use our code "THEYOUNGGUIDES15" at checkout to save some dough (ha, punny) or follow our link at: lddy.no/12lzd Lucky Bug Lures: Use our code "THEYOUNGGUIDES15" at checkout to save 15% on their website at: luckybuglures.com Alaska Rod Co.: alaskarodco.com Northern Knits: instagram.com/northern._.knits/

Ryan, Aaron, and Katie discuss an apology issued by Disney over a Texas High School drill team's inappropriate performance.

Tess free reads a story of glory being snatched and wrong decisions screw up.

Dust n' Diamonds Mounted Drill Team Today, we are out at Rancho Rio Equestrian Center with the leaders of the local equestrian drill team, Dust n' Diamonds Mounted Drill Team. Shawna Pendley is the choreographer and drill master and Marilyn Morphis, “Mo”, is her eyes on the ground. On a side-note — we are outside the main arena before the drill team practice. There's traffic, planes and even fire engines that tried to invade our interview. Trying to get good sound was definitely challenging. I handled the sound duties and enlisted, (more like drafted), Ranae for interview duties. The three women did an outstanding job. Dust n' Diamonds Mounted Drill Team has performed at rodeos, fairs, and special events for nearly 30 years. The team competes at the big drill team competition in Reno. If you've ever seen an equestrian drill team, you're going to love this behind-the-scenes look at the Dust n' Diamonds Equestrian Drill Team. Could you hear how much Shawna & Mo love this team? Their energy is infectious. And what a wonderful, safe place they provide women to have fun with their horses.  If you would like to help - either financially, to ride or otherwise - contact Mo at (661) 549-1289. I'll have links, photos and more information at Whoa Podcast dot com.  Links Heard in this Episode Dust n' Diamonds Mounted Drill Team Facebook Page Looking to help. Contact Marilyn Morphis at (661) 549-1289. Join Us on this Journey We want you to be a part of the show. Tell us about your horse. Share your challenges, triumphs, or just everyday items that make horse ownership unique. Create an audio file using the memo app on your phone. Or contact me and we'll set up a time to talk on Skype or phone. Perhaps what you have to share can help someone in THEIR horse journey. You are an enormous part of why we do a podcast. We really love getting your feedback. Please let us know your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions for the show. Email us at John@WhoaPodcast.com Thanks for listening. John & Ranae Episode #193 Support the Whoa Podcast with this Amazon Link. Checkout My John Harrer & Horses YouTube Channel

Ethan Morse and Neal Schrodetzki are sharing the traditions, responsibilities, and legacy of the U.S. Military in a much anticipated four-part docu-series, Honor Guard. The series will premiere streaming on Amazon, December 25, 2020. Throughout 2021, the series will be released to over 50 other streaming services. Honor Guard has been in the works for over three years as Morse and Schrodetzki meticulously detail four unique specialty platoons of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment in Washington, D.C. The same unit where the two men met and served side by side. Aside from being U.S. veterans together, the pair are established filmmakers and long time friends. They are known for their intense storytelling and their film “The Unknowns” which was a huge success. This time, the duo returned to The Old Guard to dive deeper into some of the specialized services the unit provides, and to highlight the history of The Regiment. Honor Guard is about all of the work that goes into being a Guard of Honor, and explores the emotional and physical burden put upon them by being tasked with protecting our nation's capital. Schrodetzki and Morse were granted exclusive access to film with The Old Guard, in association with the U.S. Army, due to their service in the unit years prior. They were permitted to document 3rd Infantry’s Regimental Orientation Program, The U.S. Army’s caisson Platoon, The U.S. Army’s Drill Team, and the process soldiers undertake to become part of the Full Honors Casket Team. This was truly unique, and adds a very personal and educational aspect to the series. Each part of their show is named after a portion of the specialty training offered by The Old Guard, such as: Caisson, The Regiment, Drill Team, and Full Honors. The duo is accompanied in their mission to honor the fallen by Academy Award® Nominated Actor and Hollywood legend, Sam Elliott, as the narrator of Honor Guard. "He's known throughout the military for portraying American heroes in film.” Schrodetzki informed Deadline, “Sam Elliott represents the soul and spirit of the Honor Guard.” He was the perfect fit for such an intense project and brings an air of respect to the episodes through his narration.

On this episode of the Overly Opinionated podcast we talk $600 stimulus checks, Lizzo's detox, Asher Roth and the great white rappers, 106 & Park reboots and how vibrators were originally created for men. Check out this weeks episode, it gets kinda weird!

This is the first episode of the BYOC Podcast. I explain a little bit of my story, my tomboy/ nerdy background & my brief entanglement with the DCC, some encouragement, quote of the day, and explanation of trauma.Drill Team & DanceCollege and deciding to audition for DCCLost weight, trained for trainingOn the CMT Reality Show: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders - Making The Team Seasons 8 & 9Won the First Fan Favorite Vote with 50 thousand votesWas body shamed, ridiculed, bullied, and my character was defamed. Fell into a depression, leaned on drinking to get through itDeveloped anxiety, body dysmorphia, yada yada yadaHealed and nowI’m happy trying to help y’all live your best life.

On today’s episode we are joined by adi we dive deep into our fears, our friendships, and funny mems!!!

On today's episode I sit down with popular Sri Lankan Hip Hop Artist Manasick to talk about his journey and how to market yourself as a rapper. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/discoverthefounder/message

In this episode Channa Channa Channa is talking to his homeboy Big Doggy from Negombo, Sri Lanka.   Channa and Doggy studied in same school and had been friends for over decades.  Big Doggy is one of the biggest Rappers in Sri Lanka, he started early 2000s with his crews Bornfree with Anton Fernando (RIP) , IRC and Neither World.  Joined the TNL Onstage and also collaborated with many artists like Chinthy, Costa, Drill Team and Iraj and Ill Noize.  Big Doggy is discussing with Channa his past, home town,  his influences , starting the Selfie Rap trend, releasing his major singles  Rap Sellama (Rap Game) and ස්තූතියි (Thank You) with Livid.  Shout out to all our Friends and Family from Negombo. Watch Big Doggy's Videos on Youtube: Rap Sellama : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYEhmRQjH1sස්තූතියි : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etG1R_diIW0Stay Safe!  Stay Home! Listen to Hip Hop! #channa3x #channa3xvlogs #bigdoggy  

Marissa Cantu-Harkless talks about college life as a Texas Strutter, her career directing drill teams for public high schools, and her hopes for this summer's virtual programming. Follow her at www.facebook.com/marissa.cantuharkless and www.instagram.com/@Harkless_dances.

Mister Mark talks with 3 students, Molly, Maria & Emma, who are members of their High School drill team. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

The boys kickback and just have a casual convo at the crib that was supposed to just be a short episode. It ended up hitting two hours. We had the young producer homie YG (@YunggodHTX on Twitter) joined in on our shenanigans. We somehow got into church nostalgia. Then we backdoored with our topics that included the QC Stripper Bowl, Pastor Troy's homophobia, A Superbowl recap, Erykah Badu's pussy scents and whatever else came about. You know it doesn't matter what we talk about because you'll enjoy yourself regardless. That's why we love y'all.

Nearly 28 years after two young boys discover the body of 16-year-old Sarah Yarborough, a suspect is in custody.Police say Sarah was raped, strangled and killed, then left in a secluded, wooded area. Suspect Patrick Leon Nicholas claims innocence.Joining Nancy Grace to discuss the case:Jason Oshins: NY Defense AttorneyJames Shelnutt : Retired Atlanta Metro Major Case Detective, SWAT OfficerCaryn Stark: Psychologist Dr. Michelle Dupree: South Carolina Medical Examiner & Author of “Homicide Investigation Field Guide” Shera LaPoint: Genetic Genealogist, The Gene HunterLevi Page: Investigative Reporter

Weekly Updates Nov. 24, 2019 Hello VAPA Community! This is Dr. Trimis with a few announcements! Please note that our campus and offices are closed from November 23 to December 1 for the Fall Break, though some sports teams and groups may be practicing.  ¡Hola Comunidad VAPA! ¡Este es el Dr. Trimis con algunos anuncios! Congratulations to our Fall sports teams who have completed their seasons and our Winter Teams who started games this week. A special shout-out to our Legacy Cross Country Girls and Boys Teams who competed on November 23 in the Los Angeles CIF City Section Cross Country Championships at Pierce College. Congratulations also to our Legacy VAPA Band who competed the same day in the LAUSD Band and Drill Team championships at East LA College. When we return to school on December 2, we have a busy three weeks ahead of us until the end of the semester. Please support our Toy Drive as we collect unwrapped, new toys, for children in the City of South Gate. Toy collections will taken in the VAPA, ISLC, and STEAM offices as well as curbside in front of the Welcome Center before school on December 3-6. Also, to support the Toy Drive, anyone who donates an wrapped toy will be admitted to the Winter Fest Music and Winter Fest Dance Shows on December 6 and 13. Suggested donation is for children ages 8-12. Ticket process for Winter Fest are $5 for students and children and $7 for adult non-students.  For more information, please go to our website and social media links at www.vapalegacy.com Please enjoy Thanksgiving with your family and friends we will see you at school on December 2. Take Care,   Dr. Edward Trimis, Principal  

The boys bring on guest Abby Strater to talk about drill team.

Two high school students from a small town in Texas beganworking on a school project about Dyslexia. They soon began tofeel an overwhelming passion about Dyslexia because one of theparticipants Lily was diagnosed at a young age. To expandknowledge about Dyslexia and the issues that many students facethey decided to start the 1-in-5 necklace campaign. 1-in-5 peoplesuffer from Dyslexia.Lily just graduated from Midlothian Heritage High School. During her senior year she joined FCCLA and decided to do a STAR EVENT with her best friend, Genesis. After, throwing around many ideas they chose Dyslexia as their topic to compete in the advocacy category. As the project went on more and more opportunities presented themselves. Lily will be attending Tyler Junior College in the fall under General Studies for her first year. She also just got a job working for American Dance and Drill Team.Genesis is a senior in High School. Last year I was president of FCCLA and decided to a STAR event project with Lily. We took our passion and determination and put it all into our Advocacy Project titled Decoding Dyslexia. This project brought home first at regionals and state. We also had the opportunity to participate in the National FCCLA conference. After a week in Anaheim California we were honored to receive a Gold medal and the highest score within our event in the Nation. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Empowerdyslexia)

Captain Lauran Glover made history in 2014 as the first female commander of the U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) Drill Team. Captain Glover reflects on her service, including a tour at Guantanamo Bay and as Platoon Leader for the Old Guard's 289th Military Police (M.P.) Company. Since her time as Drill Team Commander, Capt. Glover has begun a doctoral program in clinical psychology.

In this episode Nick Novitski talks to Brace Belden about the 2019 May Day action organized by the members of IWLU Local 10 to oppose the plans of the Oakland Port Commision and Oakland A's owner John Fisher to build a new baseball stadium on the site of Howard Terminal. Thanks to the Labor Video Project, you can watch Brace's full speech at the action, along with those of many other powerful speakers, such as the president of CWA AFA International, Sara Nelson. Labor Video Project - http://laborvideo.org Brace's speech - https://youtu.be/Y_WQNoEj1cY?t=1272 Thanks to the Harry Bridges Project, you can also watch a rehearsal session of Local 10's Drill Team (which Brace and Nick both admire, but both misremember as being called a "color guard"), and a short excerpt of a documentary about them. Harry Bridges Projet - http://theharrybridgesproject.org Drill Team rehearsal - http://theharrybridgesproject.org/drill_team2.mov Drill Team documentary excerpt - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6Bsveqgu7I Email DSASF's Labor Committee to find out how you can support the workers of the Bay Area at labor@dsasf.org.

Life in Motion is about Misty Copeland, the first African-American principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, or ABT, in New York. The books winds its way from Misty’s childhood, when she first took up ballet at the local Boys and Girls Club at the urging of her Drill Team instructor, to her first competitions, her first auditions for prestigious summer programs, her entrance into the ABT Studio Team, her ascent to the corps de ballet, then to a soloist, and eventually to a principal dancer. Misty discusses not only her journey but the journey of her family through tumultuous years. Misty finds her way in life through ballet as well as through the guidance of mentors, who are themselves Modern Athenas. Throughout the book, Misty discusses lessons she has learned about life, about ballet, and about herself. It is these lessons that we are going to focus on today. 00:00-01:10 Intro and Background of the Book01:11-03:55 Discipline, No Shortcuts03:56-06:00 The Illusion of Perfection06:01-11:13 Freedom Through Performance11:14-14:37 Becoming Less Self-Judgmental14:38-17:14 Getting Noticed 17:15-21:40 Dichotomies of Life, Finding Balance21:41-26:02 Believing in Your Purpose26:03-30:51 Race & Identity30:52-33:40 Climbing the Ladder33:41-37:14 Self-Image, Self-Esteem37:15-42:07 Appreciating What You Have42:08-46:09 Running Away vs. Confronting Problems46:10-51:52 Misty's Modern Athenas51:53-52:47 Outro and Next EpisodeVisit www.modernathenas.com for links to all episodes.Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play or YouTube.Follow us on Twitter/Facebook @modernathenasFollow us on Instagram @themodernathenaspodcastSend us feedback or leave a review! Thanks for listening.

Life in Motion is about Misty Copeland, the first African-American principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, or ABT, in New York. The books winds its way from Misty’s childhood, when she first took up ballet at the local Boys and Girls Club at the urging of her Drill Team instructor, to her first competitions, her first auditions for prestigious summer programs, her entrance into the ABT Studio Team, her ascent to the corps de ballet, then to a soloist, and eventually to a principal dancer. Misty discusses not only her journey but the journey of her family through tumultuous years. Misty finds her way in life through ballet as well as through the guidance of mentors, who are themselves Modern Athenas. Throughout the book, Misty discusses lessons she has learned about life, about ballet, and about herself. It is these lessons that we are going to focus on today. 00:00-01:10 Intro and Background of the Book01:11-03:55 Discipline, No Shortcuts03:56-06:00 The Illusion of Perfection06:01-11:13 Freedom Through Performance11:14-14:37 Becoming Less Self-Judgmental14:38-17:14 Getting Noticed 17:15-21:40 Dichotomies of Life, Finding Balance21:41-26:02 Believing in Your Purpose26:03-30:51 Race & Identity30:52-33:40 Climbing the Ladder33:41-37:14 Self-Image, Self-Esteem37:15-42:07 Appreciating What You Have42:08-46:09 Running Away vs. Confronting Problems46:10-51:52 Misty's Modern Athenas51:53-52:47 Outro and Next EpisodeVisit www.modernathenas.com for links to all episodes.Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play or YouTube.Follow us on Twitter/Facebook @modernathenasFollow us on Instagram @themodernathenaspodcastSend us feedback or leave a review! Thanks for listening.

This winter, NYS Drill Teams Media presents weekly (who am I kidding, probably bi-weekly) podcasts where we break down the fundamentals of Drill Team competition.  This week, we break down the position of Thrower in B and C Ladder with Vinny Bogert of the North Lindenhurst "Piston Knockers", and Kevin Candido, formerly of the Hempstead Yellow Hornets.